Pub boss vows to carry on despite Covid crisis,
A STRUGGLING landlady says she has considered walking away from her pub during lockdown but it is the thought of her loyal customers that keeps her going.
Sam Rice, who owns the Loaf & Cheese in Waterloo Street, in Burton, says she does not listen to the Government broadcasts on coronavirus any more as she finds them so “disheartening”. She also finds it hard to truly take in just how badly the hospitality industry has been hit as pubs, restaurants and cafés continue to stay shut during the third national lockdown.
The 55-year-old, who lives in Burton, said: “The announcements are very disheartening and never mention anything positive or motivational about pubs and other hospitality sectors.
“It has been long enough and even if we are allowed to open any time soon, there will be so many rules to follow which will put people off coming in.
“We have been very patient and a lot of my friends and colleagues are saying let’s wait and see what happens, but for me the hospitality trade is being killed off and no one seems to be concerned.
“For me, my pub is not just my job it’s everything for me and currently I am unsure as to what I want to do. Part of me wants to pack it all in but then I know how much my pub means to my customers and I want to keep going, and be there when they are allowed to come back.”
Peter Spittles, who owns the Last Heretic pub in Station Street, Burton, was much more optimistic about the future, though. He said lockdown had allowed him to concentrate on different business ideas after a successful remote beer and cheese event which saw customers buy ales and cheese online, which where then delivered to their doors. He says that events like this one have left him feeling confident that new ideas will work well for him.
The 53-year-old, who lives in Boothorpe, near Blackfordby, in North West Leicestershire, said: “Off the back of our drinks and cheese tasting event we have had some keen interest from groups of friends who want to do something similar.
“It’s a different concept and given the circumstances it’s a great way to socialise with friends or family and it was unexpected but very encouraging for us.
“We don’t know when we will be allowed to open as a sit-in pub and we have to do something to keep going, so for now it’s working quite well for us.
“The beer delivery service is also going quite well and going from working 12 hours a day to now only working eight to ten hours a week does take some getting used to, but it’s still nice to have something to do.”
Emma Golding, who owns The Grove in Merrydale Road, Stapenhill, said: “It’s currently very boring and sometimes I have to check what day it is.
“Going from a full-on job to not working is very different and I hope we will be able to open soon.
“This lockdown has been longer than before, and with the weather being the way it is currently it’s very dull and everyone is feeling down
“For now we just have to keep following guidelines and doing the basics. I feel like we have got through the worst and just have to keep going and look forward to the light at the end of the tunnel.”